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One thing they ([B]Roger Federer & Steffi Graf[/B]) have in common: they scare(d) the crap out of their opponents when at the top. that's the kind of weapon you can't teach at the local club. and they use(d) it to perfection.

Yeah federer got boring after a while, the only times he's fun to watch is when he plays against cañas or nadal, he sucks the life out of tennis, its like, "Hey i heard "my favourite player" is playing tomorrow, do u know against who" the other dood: "federer", whats the point of watching the match if he's going to get slaughtered, dont get me wrong, hes a great player and has all the GOAT potential.

And what if you dont like watching a "Monkey" why do u call him a monkey? is it racist?, is it because hes not american?, is it because he's able to BEAT federer?, And why do you think yelling vamos is wrong?, i mean, that shows that he enjoys what he's doing and most important, he's got attitude.

I am not his fan because I think he benefits from an overall very weak era, has an ego that is incredibly obnoxious, and tries to mask it behind an "I'm so nice and humble" attitude this is so phony he could easily be a politician. Even if he wins 20+ slams I will never think he was the greatest tennis player of all time because aside from Nadal he is not playing any other great players. McEnroe, Sampras, Laver, Gonzalez (Pancho that is), Lendl etc. These are all guys I think are better players no matter what Federer does with the rest of his career.

He is a mentally fragile player that plays against weak people. Just look at what happens to him when someone dares to stand up to him. He falls apart (i.e. against Nadal generally and Canas in the last month or two).

What I don't understand is why ARE people his fan? Generally I like people that seem to be good people first and foremost. This is why I like Nadal. I like his attitude and fighting spirit. He seems to be genuinly down to Earth (before the Wimbledon final he stated he can only beat Roger "Sometimes" after the interviewer said he "always" won, and then went on to say he would have to play the match of his career to win. I like that) whereas someone like Roger after getting repeatedly spanked by Nadal goes off to say he is one dimensional and that he is still the obvious number 1. That is unbelievably obnoxious, and I don't see how a single person can root for that.

It has been my observation that a lot of the Federer fans attach themselves to him as if his accomplishments somehow bolster their own lives or sense of self worth. I find that odd myself. I know this is not unique to tennis, and is a problem with all sports, but Federer fans seems to live and thrive on his wins. I would suggest some sunshine for these people.

Also, what is it with people saying Americans don't like Federer because he's not American? Talk about pre-judging people. When I was a kid my favorites were Becker and Lendl. I was about 6 or 7 at the time. I have never ever chosen who I like because of their nationality. That accusation is such a cop out to avoid real issues.

Also, what is it with people saying Americans don't like Federer because he's not American? Talk about pre-judging people. When I was a kid my favorites were Becker and Lendl. I was about 6 or 7 at the time. I have never ever chosen who I like because of their nationality. That accusation is such a cop out to avoid real issues.

Lendl, Graf, Henin and Federer are the four most successful European players of the last 25 years.

I know not a single country in which those four players have met the same aggressive adversity as in the United States of America.

Lendl, Graf, Henin and Federer are the four most successful European players of the last 25 years.

I know not a single country in which those four players have met the same aggressive adversity as in the United States of America.

Condi

Adversity in what sense? I have to plead ignorance here. Henin isn't well liked in general because of how she conducts herself, isn't that true? Graf is probably my favorite womens player of all time and Lendl is one of my favorites, and I am an American. Federer seems to get decent receptions just about everywhere from what I've seen. Lendl did have a lot of detractors but wasn't that more about his robotic nature? Also at the Nadal/Roddick Indian Wells match, Nadal appeared to have more support from where I was sitting. Explain that?

What I think is FAR worse, is that some people like someone simply because they are "countrymen," choosing to completely ignore the quality of that person's character.

The reason why people hate Federer is the same why sports boards almost always become jock celebrity boards. It's easier to yap about the same 2-5 front runners, than actually get into challenging discussions about the other 100 world class athletes on tour. That would actually require effort. I'm very guilty of that too.

I worship Federer's game
he forces the ballbashers like Roddick to actually learn tennis instead of hitting the ball and learning that moving towards the net is not as if he were stepping on foreign soil and that nowadays standing on the baseline and smack forehands ain't gonna win you much
and everybody else to play better because with him playing so well on all surfaces
and with Nadal owning clay and Federer in the finals there
they,to some extent have forced the tour to get better,get fitter,get faster,move better and actually play tennis and fight for the crumbs they leave behind

I worship Federer's game
he forces the ballbashers like Roddick to actually learn tennis instead of hitting the ball and learning that moving towards the net is not as if he were stepping on foreign soil and that nowadays standing on the baseline and smack forehands ain't gonna win you much
and everybody else to play better because with him playing so well on all surfaces
and with Nadal owning clay and Federer in the finals there
they,to some extent have forced the tour to get better,get fitter,get faster,move better and actually play tennis and fight for the crumbs they leave behind

could be, but it also could be the other way around, why get fitter faster and move better if he's going to win neways?

I am not his fan because I think he benefits from an overall very weak era, has an ego that is incredibly obnoxious, and tries to mask it behind an "I'm so nice and humble" attitude this is so phony he could easily be a politician. Even if he wins 20+ slams I will never think he was the greatest tennis player of all time because aside from Nadal he is not playing any other great players. McEnroe, Sampras, Laver, Gonzalez (Pancho that is), Lendl etc. These are all guys I think are better players no matter what Federer does with the rest of his career.

He is a mentally fragile player that plays against weak people. Just look at what happens to him when someone dares to stand up to him. He falls apart (i.e. against Nadal generally and Canas in the last month or two).

What I don't understand is why ARE people his fan? Generally I like people that seem to be good people first and foremost. This is why I like Nadal. I like his attitude and fighting spirit. He seems to be genuinly down to Earth (before the Wimbledon final he stated he can only beat Roger "Sometimes" after the interviewer said he "always" won, and then went on to say he would have to play the match of his career to win. I like that) whereas someone like Roger after getting repeatedly spanked by Nadal goes off to say he is one dimensional and that he is still the obvious number 1. That is unbelievably obnoxious, and I don't see how a single person can root for that.

It has been my observation that a lot of the Federer fans attach themselves to him as if his accomplishments somehow bolster their own lives or sense of self worth. I find that odd myself. I know this is not unique to tennis, and is a problem with all sports, but Federer fans seems to live and thrive on his wins. I would suggest some sunshine for these people.

You know i do agree with some of your points, but im not hater or even close of Roger. But your theory that he falls apart mentally when someone challenges him is false, when someone challenges him its not mentally he loses. Roger is very tough mentally and somewhat cocky, his so called "defeats" by Rafa and Canas were both VERY close and tough matches. So a set or two hell lose give a 6-3 to Nadal but none other than that. Fed i feel likes it when people challenge him, just makes him greater and something to work more forward too. If he does lose to these guys, its because they were mentally incredible that day and had the game to beat him, but scarcely. Roddick for instance doesnt fear roger and likes his meetups however he gets demolished because his game just isnt sharp enough to bother Fed.

I rooted for Federer to beat Roddick in that first Wimbledon semi-final. He has done wonders to keep Roddick out of the winner's circle. What I feel guilty about is rooting Federer on against Baghdatis in the Aussie Open final. Baghdatis is much more likeable. What I have learned is that I like watching Roddick and Federer lose. Other than that, he is not Safin. DAVAI, Marat! WOOOO HOOOOO!